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Southern Miss will face its first true test of the season this weekend.

The Golden Eagles (7-1), who defeated Tulane 2-1 when Storme Cooper drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, have played just one road game in 2017.

That will change beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, when the team takes on Louisiana-Lafayette at the Ragin’ Cajuns’ newly renovated stadium, Russo Park. ULL, ranked 16th in the nation, has yet to play on its home field this season.

Despite the Ragin’ Cajuns’ slow 4-3 start, which has been helped by Tony Robichaux’s club winning three of its last four, Southern Miss coach Scott Berry is expecting tough sledding.

“It’s going to be a great challenge,” he said. “They just took a big series from Sam Houston State on the road and then won a big game against Northwestern State in extra innings (on Tuesday). They’re a well-coached club. Very competitive.”

Right-hander Hayden Roberts (0-0, 5.79 ERA) is expected to take the mound in Friday’s contest, while lefty Kirk McCarty (2-0, 1.46) is slated to start Saturday’s 2 p.m. tilt. Freshman right-hander Cody Carroll (0-0, 8.59) is set to toe the rubber in the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Pitching has been ULL’s strength thus far, as the Ragin’ Cajuns have assembled a 2.25 team ERA through seven games, which includes a pair of shutouts. Right-hander Nick Lee (2-0, 0.69) and southpaw Gunner Leger (1-1, 1.80) have each made two starts this season, while lefty Hogan Harris (0-0) and right-hander Evan Guillory (1-1, 13.50) have made one start apiece.

“They’ve got some good arms,” Golden Eagle senior first baseman Dylan Burdeaux said. “It’ll be a challenge. But we’re ready for it. We’re ready to see what we can do and get after it.”

ULL has struggled offensively, hitting just .237 as a team and averaging three runs per game.

Southern Miss, conversely, sports a .318 team batting average and is scoring 9.9 runs per contest.